That is the most phenomenal video I have ever watched. hahah Wow! This whole thing is turning in to a circus. This makes it fun to laugh about though. The non-laughing part is the part where one small group of “Christians,” about 40 people from what I read, are putting on this ridiculous event and it will be attributed to all Christians. It’s very sad and I pray it doesn’t happen. If it does, no news organization better cover it. There should be no press or fame given to this whack job.

Well I presented a sincere apology on my blog, and there were so many followers of Christ who are in support of this guy and his actions! There were also a handful who didn’t give a shit…

What the fuck is wrong with some Christians?

How is this beneficial, kind, loving, dare I say…Christlike?

I’m not certain, but I might go to the local mosque on Friday and ask if I can speak in front of everyone and offer up an apology as one follower of Christ who recognizes this is not right and that the majority of us are not like this.

If we’re the body of Christ, a family, I guess this guy’s the inbred cousin no one talks about unless they’ve pulled some stupid shit.

Don’t apologize, Nathaniel. They’ll get over it (although not before quoting the “every word said in idle” out of context). These loonies are saying far worse things than any four-letter word.
Btw, does it strike anyone else as a coincidence that the guy’s last name is Jones. Go figure. Please, don’t drink the kool-aid.

Two things, Nathanael. First, it’s questionable that anyone who supports this is an actual, dyed-in-the-wool follower of Christ. To me, a follower of Christ is someone who attempts to live like him. I just don’t see Jesus burning any books.
Second, we have a long and storied tradition of doing stupid shit and, unfortunately, fight intolerance with even greater intolerance fits right in.

The power of Abu Lahab will perish, and he will perish.
Abu Lahab will die and be plunged in flaming Fire. His wife will have on her neck a halter of palm fiber.
His wealth and gains will not exempt him.
He will be plunged in flaming Fire,
And his wife, the wood-carrier,
Will have upon her neck a halter of palm-fibre.

Is it as wrong to burn a person as it is to burn the Koran?

I think it is just as wrong to burn a person as it is to burn the Koran.

In fact, it might even be more wrong.

Although obviously I respect the right of Muslims to publish books saying people should be burned.

Right, and the Bible includes no mention whatsoever of death or injury to those who break God’s laws – laws that most Christians (and Jews) do not follow to the letter today – and that same most of us would consider barbaric and no longer applicable, not just that we’re “cafeteria” Christians.

I love this argument where somehow we get to ignore everything that’s a little unsavory in our own history just because there’s more of us than there are of them.

While we are on the subject, I can’t figure out where there is such a double standard. People who are for the mosque being built near ground zero, are against this guy burning the Koran. What’s the deal? Do we have freedoms or not?

How about this…Is the president now islamaphobic for worrying about soldiers getting killed and riots overseas? Obviously, if there is retribution for this act, he is assuming it will come from muslims. I guess everyone is scared of the religion of peace, just in different ways.

It’s a false comparison. Building a community center that promotes interfaith initiatives (and worship space for other religions) is a lot different than burning books – which is almost universally used as a method to suggest that any and all ideas in such books deserve to be wiped from the face of the earth.

Does he technically have a right to burn the Qu’ran if he wants? Maybe – I’m actually not sure – burning books could be considered a form of speech, but it might fall under a violation of the First Amendment because burning books could be considered violating the speech of others – i.e. destroying text. But I’m not a legal scholar so I don’t know.

Also, just because you can doesn’t mean you should. I know I do not consider book burning a Christian act. We are called to respond with love, not fear.

How is it a false comparison? How is it that much different? Just because you say it is? People are using this exact same argument against the community center that you just used…”It’s legal, but it wouldn’t be wise to build it there.” The comparisons are stunning. Especially stunning when you consider how close in time both of the events have flared up.

People have burned books in America for a long time. I don’t see how that is so offensive. I mean, it’s not like he is stealing a muslim’s book and then burning it. He is burning a book that he owns (or was given him or he bought). This doesn’t answer my question either. When is it ok to be scared of muslims Silica? When they are threatening Americans for burning their books, or when they are building mosques or maybe when you are on train in London? The president obviously draws the line at when some burns their book.

As for whether it is Christian or not. I don’t think its a very loving gesture, especially if you want to see muslims repent and receive forgiveness. I personally wouldn’t burn the Koran. I just think the hoopla over all this is ridiculous. It’s a nutjob in Florida burning a book. Why is he getting all this media attention over something so insignificant, it’s just a book. It will get reprinted.

I explained my reasons. The purposes of burning a book and building a community center are very different. While you can talk about it as an object, as if it were a table or something, that can be replaced, okay – but I know I would take huge offense to people burning the Bible. Because burning books symbolizes more than just the burning of a random object – it is a deliberate attack on the philosophy, worldview, and culture of the people who appreciate it or follow it. (I take offense to all book burning for that reason – it’s not a neutral act and it’s ridiculous to pretend that it is).

As to “when it’s ok” to be afraid of Muslims, I would suggest that if the reason you’re scared is BECAUSE they are Muslim, then I would suggest you have some prejudices you need to think about. Now if you’re scared of some people who happen to be Muslim or justify their tyrannical acts using Islam, that’s a completely different issue. I do not like this group from Gainesville (I’m not scared of them- more like highly disdainful), but I do fear the kind of worldview – no matter where or who it comes from – that thinks that burning books is a good way to get a message across. It reeks of tyranny.

So do you think the president is scared BECAUSE they are muslim or because they just HAPPEN to be muslim? It seems to me that either way, muslims are promoting a lot of fear, whether rightfully so or not. Do you think the president is prejudice because he assumes the muslims will start attacking our soldiers? He should just assume that all muslims are peace-loving people, right? This is a non-issue then.

Why is it ridiculous to think that its a neutral act? It’s an opinion. I have a right to have my own This guy has motives behind the burning, there is no question about that. People normally have motives behind any book burning. I don’t think it’s cold enough in Florida yet that they need to burn them to keep warm. But, either way…it’s just a book, they will make more. I’m a Christian and it doesn’t really offend me when I see people burn the Bible. It’s their problem. If they wanted to burn my Bible, then it would be my problem. I don’t really understand why you take it so personally. I think people should try not to be so easily offended.

BTW, evidently burning books is a great way to get a message across. He’s getting more media attention than anyone else right now. And, I think it’s BS that he’s getting this much coverage, because like you kind of said (to which, I agree)…burning books SHOULD not be a good way to get your message across. I love my books.

1. I think it is wrong to burn the Koran or commit any other evil in the name of JESUS CHRIST or associated with the doctrine of JESUS CHRIST.

2. We at least have an old testament and new testament and we are in the new where we have no violent commands at all.

3. The folks who want to harm America today showed their peace and unity by burning American flags and shouting, “Death to Christians.” That is what they feel about us, that is how they feel about us. Christians have been for years getting killed by groups of angry Muslims world wide and we do nothing but “send a prayer for them.”

4. Sometimes I read those stories and I see the cowardly leadership in this nation bowing down and kissing the feet of those who still want to cut our heads off and wonder why we are still losing the “war on terror?”

5. We have spent billions in their nations, we buy their oil, we do what we can and we allow them to become citizens where they practice intolerance and teach intolerance and where naive liberals defend them. While in their nations women get stoned for adultery and folks get harassed by showing too much ankle.

6. I am tired of the lack of testicles in this nation, for the lack of strong leadership that will say, “Hey take your intolerance and stick it where the sun don’t shine.”

7. I think it’s cowardly to burn the Koran, and I think it’s cowardly so many of our leaders are scared of offending Muslims and the violence they may cause.

I guess the war on terror is over, they won.

As for equating Islam with homosexuality? Really? Are homosexuals mad that they are sin? Mad that homosexuality is a sin? Hey I didn’t write the doctrine, GOD did, take it up with him.

Goodness, I am for allowing gays to be married, as our society does not define marriage as one man and one woman and we should not restrict them.

I am for folks practicing Islam without discrimination and fear, but I am also for us practicing Christianity without the same and for folks who don’t agree with the homosexual or liberal agendas of those in power, being able to live with our freedoms and choices as well.

It’s up for all of us to get along, but Islamic nations have to start reaching out. Even atheist Christopher Hitchens has said such, when we real never have real equality until ALL SIDES reach out to each other in purity and truth.

Right now it seems like we are doing the reaching . . and they are doing the kicking.

Hi all. Forgive me for jumping in, but I think many of you will find this relevant. (I’m a regular JesusNeedsNewPR reader).

A guy I “know” through his blog responded to this by starting the first “international Meal with a Muslim Day”, for Sept 17.
For many of us, it’s too late to do much about it, unless we already know Muslim friends. But if you could publicise it, tell your friends, share the facebook links etc, that would be cool.

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